Sunday, November 20, 2011

The remaining students, who far outnumber the contingent of police, slowly start to encircle the officers while chanting "Shame on you!" The chants get louder and more menacing as the crowd gets closer, herding the police into a defensive huddle. Officers raise their weapons toward the crowd, warning them to back off, but at this distance and in these numbers, their riot gear would offer them little protection should the crowd suddenly charge. Sensing their advantage, the students change their chant to the more defiant "Whose university? Our university!" Tensions rise. One twitchy trigger finger and anything could happen. Then a lone voice initiates the familiar call and response of the human mic:

Voice: "Mic check!"Crowd: "Mic check!"

Voice: "We are willing..."Crowd: "We are willing..."

Voice: "To give you a brief moment..."Crowd: "To give you a brief moment..."

Voice: "Of peace..."Crowd: "Of peace..."

Voice: "In order to take your weapons..."Crowd: "In order to take your weapons..."

Voice: "And your friends..."Crowd: "And your friends..."

Voice: "And go."Crowd: "And go."

Voice: "Please do not return..."Crowd: "Please do not return..."

Voice: "We are giving you a moment of peace."Crowd: "We are giving you a moment of peace."

The crowd then starts chanting "You can go! You can go!", and after a few moments the police turn their backs to the crowd and do exactly that, wisely taking advantage of the offered truce, and eliciting cheers and applause from the crowd.